Letters, of no more than 250 words, must bear the writer's full name, address with a zip code, daytime phone number and email address. Middle initials and zip codes will be published. Other information is used for verification but is not published or given to other parties. (Stock image)

Redstone an invaluable asset

I read, with great dismay, the commentary by letter writer Linda Merrell upon the value of work and workers at Redstone Arsenal. What a blatant insult.

How one can reach such erroneous conclusions and make outrageous liberal pronouncements can only be explained through the drinking of copious quantities of Democrat koolaid and treating hearsay as undisputed fact!

It is obvious the writer has absolutely no insight into the importance of the work being performed on the arsenal. It is equally obvious that she is clueless in the areas of required skills and relative pay scales.

Excellence is the goal, not socialist mediocrity. If you want to be the best and stay the best then you need to surround yourself with the best.

Merrell willfully chooses to ignore the fact that our armed forces are the best because of dedicated civil service and contractor personnel like those on the arsenal and at similar facilities throughout our country. Just being good enough is not good enough in their eyes.

While these people do not wear the uniform, it is their labor, their expertise and their tireless spirit that is critical to keeping our military the class of the world.

Merrell is equally wrong in the assertion that Redstone Arsenal just adds to the U.S. debt. Redstone Arsenal doesn't cost - it pays. Work performed there adds strength to our democracy, enhances the capabilities of our armed forces, promotes our local economy and represents a solid value for the money.

In less than four years, Obama is so incompetent he doesn't realize his economic policies are failing,. or does he see a failed economy is needed to transform the country as he envisions?

Like other leftists, Obama thinks the free market is unfair and needs to be controlled by the government. He believes people should depend on the government for their needs instead of working hard and achieving their own financial success.

He also believes that those who have become rich should give a large share of their money to the government so it can be redistributed to achieve "income equality."

We've seen in communist countries how well government-control of the markets and income equality has turned out for the people.

For many years, God has blessed America with freedom and prosperity. Today, the biggest threat to our freedom and prosperity is the Obama administration. If he is re-elected, he will double-down on his destruction of America. Voting him out in November will be our last chance to save our economy and freedom.

Joyce Conner

Athens, 35611

Be balanced with cartoons

The Times recently published editorial cartoons that were aimed negatively at conservatives and the real view of the American way. The cartoon which purported that evolution is the method by which the human race came about is a laugh.

Anyone who believes that a lump of mud can evolve into a functioning human being, without the hand of our Almighty God, is either without any knowledge, a denier, or has an IQ under 50. The Times should publish editorials that give a real view of our great United States.

A recent letter to the editor suggests that global warming is real and caused by human activity. This proves my point that there are those without knowledge, that deniers live among us, and that those with IQs under 50 have fuzzy thinking.

Andre Xavier Akins

Huntsville, 35805

Southern hospitality

I am from east Africa visiting the United States for the very first time. Coming from a small developing country in Uganda, I have been met by so much love, warmth and acceptance during my stay in Huntsville- Alabama.

As I crossed continents to come visit a friend and colleague Rev. Wanda Gail who happens to be the outgoing president of the International Institute for global leadership and I being the first ever student incoming president (www.global-leadership.com), I didn't have an idea what my stay in Huntsville would be like but hoped it would be as good and safe as home.

Well I have felt at home since the first day I set foot in Huntsville. I am thankful for the southern hospitality and warmth in my interactions with people from all walks of life. I hope to take back this love and hospitality with me to my country and I will definitely recommend Huntsville to anyone that wants to experience the southern hospitality.

Thanks to all of you who have made my stay here so wonderful and memorable.

Noeline Kirabo Mulongo

Uganda

Defending David Copeland

This is in response to Crystal Bonvillian's recent article about Madison County School Superintendent Dr. David Copeland's past job as superintendent of the Crane R- III school district.

Why must The Times sink to this level? This so called "watchdog report" is no more than a "witch hunt" report. The facts are very simple: Dr. Copeland decided to come to our school system and not run from anything; the Crane, Ill. school district wanted offered him more money and an extended contract to stay; the error (in question) was corrected and did not cost the system a dime more money; and as stated in the article by Dr. Copeland," You just can't argue with ignorance."

Dr. Copeland is doing a fantastic job for the Madison County Schools, and I as one of many, are very proud that he chose our system to work in. From his first days on the clock with the tornadoes, to his handling of the school calendar, Dr. Copeland is a very fair, approachable leader that understands what it takes to manage our school system.

The Times should focus its efforts on building up our schools and supporting its leaders. While on this subject, stay off of (Huntsville Schools Superintendent) Dr. Wardynski because he is the best thing for the Huntsville school system since school buses.

Michael (Andy) Whitt

Ardmore, 35739

Help to smile about

I'm not from these parts but I am rapidly becoming very spoiled.

Prior to moving here I was not aware of the community's boundless generosity. That changed when my photography studio, Lagniappe*, decided to hold a photo shoot on behalf of Celebration of Smiles to benefit children in need of surgery for cleft palate, cleft lip, and other facial deformities.

The Times published an entire article about Operation Smile and my event without hardly any time to spare.

Design World (Dow Canup) also provided great help. Beverly Marchelos, a committed supporter of Operation Smile, gave me great advice and print materials. Many locally based merchants allowed me to post flyers about the event at their locations.

I want to thank all of them and the many families who participated and allowed me to capture their smiles in order to save a precious smile.

Darlene T. Korab

Madison, 35758

Greenhouse gasses serious

I read the recent letter from a Mr. Vallely making light of government regulations on greenhouse gasses.

I cannot understand how some people can be so uninformed and thoughtless about this subject.

Most everything he said is true in his letter mocking our government controlling greenhouse emissions but:

Just because humans, animals and termites (they do not produce carbon dioxide but do emit methane ), which are a part of nature and Gods plan, emit air pollutants is no sign we should turn our heads as industry, agriculture, and power producers blatantly accelerate the greenhouse effect and the demise of the human race. Only a fool keeps digging when the hole gets too deep to climb out of. And, we are still digging this hole.

If it weren't for the ignorance and greed of man, government intervention would not be needed but until we can eliminate these two factors, greed and ignorance, someone needs to govern these people and their industries to give us a few more decades of existence here on earth.

Don't believe me. Just fly into LA or Pittsburg and look at the pollution during the approach, It ain't just us breathing. Even flying into Huntsville you can see the effects of mankind on our air (and again, I am not talking about breathing).